Bedclothes-holder.



J. T. COWLES.

BEDCLOTHES HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I8, I9I6.

1,220, 1 98. Patented Mar. 27, 1917. w VI ,25j r1. m i: ff: Q@It I E' i @14%:12 i :p16 l lfvvi. 2 I' t. l |l :f5 -TI- l I l I I |l l i I ,fl/t Il I I I LL I I x l l \`l/ J J0 JOHN T. COWLES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' BEDCLOTHES-I-IOLDER.

Speecaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Application led February 18, 1916. Serial No. 79,091.

To `all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T.- CowLEs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bedclothes-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates -to a device for preventing accidental displacement of bed covers, and has for its object the provision of a device of this character which shall be of better construction than previous devices of this character, and also of improved operation. This invention is exemplied in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. v

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clamp embodying the present invention, the clamp being shown attached to the foot of a bedstead, the bedstead being shown in broken lines; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on .line 7-7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional'view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the operating device for the movable jaw.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the frame of a bed provided with a foot rail 2'. The foot rail 2, as shown in broken lines in Figs. 2 and 3, is in the form of an angle iron as is usual in the construction of metal beds. The bed clothes holder is arranged to be Vsecured to a rail such as that shown at 2, by means of uprights or standards 3. The standards 3 are provided at their lower ends with upturned hooks 4 which hook over the lower edge of the vertical flange of the bed rail. The standards 3 are also provided with elongated slots 5. Fastening rods 6 extendthrough the slots 5 and are provided on their inner ends with hook portions 7 which engage the inner edge 'of the horizontal flange of the bed rail. ling nuts 8 are threaded on.

the outer ends of the hooks 6 andsecure the hooks in place to rmly hold the uprights-) in position relative to the bed' frame. An angle bar 9 is' carried bythe upper ends of the standards 3 and when the holder is se-v cured to the foot of a bed, as indicated in Fig-1, the bar 9 extends substantially-the full width of the bed and occupies the position inside the frame members 10 of the bedstead and adjacent theend of thefmattress.

Each of the uprights 3' is provided with an angle bracket 11 which'brackets have pivotally mounted therein the opposite ends of a torsion rod 12 which extends from one of the uprights 3 to the other, andi which carries the movable clamping member of the holder. This movable member includes an angle bar 13 arranged to cooperate with the angle bar 9 for clamping the bed clothes and which is supported by arms 14 carriedv by the torsion rod 12 and arranged to rotate therewith as the torsion rod moves in its pivotal support in the brackets 11. The rod 12 is rectangular in section and the arms 14 are provided with rectangular openings through which the rod passes, as shown in Fig. 2. The arms 14 are made of flat bars and are given a quarter turn in order that thc ends thereof opposite the bar 12 may be conveniently secured by rivets 15 to one of the ianges of the angle bar 13. By this construction, a clamp is provided having one relatively fixed jaw consisting of the angle bar 9 and a'movable yjaw consisting of the angley bar 13 supported by arms 14 from the pivotally mounted rod 12.

The mechanism-for operating the clamping jaws is located substantially midway between the ends of the holder and is best illustratedin Figs. 1,3 and 4. a This mechanism includes an operating arm 16 provided at one end with a rectangular opening litting over the torsion rod-12 and near the opposite end with a notch 17 which receives the end of a threaded rod 18 provided with thumb pieces or wings 19 by which it is operated. Thel threaded rod'l'S is carried by a link 2O havinga yoke member 21 through which Jthe rod is threaded. The end of the link 2 0 opposite the yoke 21 is pivotally carried by Va bar 22 rigidly secured to the central portion of the iXed clamping jaw 9, Y. and depending therefrom to bring its lower rivets 24. When the link 2,0v and the threadedl bolt 18 are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 withfthe end oflthebolt in engagement with the notch 17, rotation of the bolt will force the end of the arm 16 to a the left, as shown in that figure, and tend to rotate the central portion of the torsion rod 12 in a counter-'clockwise direction.v If

the bar 13 is in contact with .the cooperating bar 9 or with Abed clothes held between the two bars, the ends of the torsion rod 12 will be held by the arms 14tto oppose this rota tion of the torsion rod. In this way, a twisting moment is set up in the rod, tending to force the rotation of the arms 1i at the ends of the rod, in a direction toward the fixed clamping bar 9. This will produce a pressure exerted by the arms 14 Vat both ends of the movable jaw 8, tending to force the jaw into contact with material held between it and the fixed jaw 9. This clamping action is made more effective by reason of the fact that the torsion rod 12 is given a slight initial twist throughout its central portion, as shown in Fig. 1, this twist being in suclr a direction that it is opposed by pressure on the arm 16 produced by the threaded member 1S. The amount of pressure on the clamping bar 13 is regulated by the extent to which the member 1S is screwed through the yoke 21. This threaded member may be operated to a suflicient extent to force the end 25 of the arm 1G into Contact with the rear of the aw 13 and thus transmit direct operative pressure on the jaw 13 at its central portion.

lVhen it is desired to insert the bed clothes into the holder, or remove them therefrom, the member 18 is sufficiently withdrawn relativeto the arm 16 to permit the end of the threaded member to swing down over the shouldei` 26' of the arm 16 into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3. This will permit the arm 16 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 8, suliicient'ly to allow a wide opening of the jaws of the holder, as shown in broken lines in the figure referred to.

In operation, the clamp is secured to the bed frame in the manner described, it being usual to secure the clamp at the foot of the bed, although it may of course be used at the sides of the bed also, if desired. The parts of the clamp being in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, the edges of the bed clothes are inserted between the clamping jaws 9 and 13 and the bolt 1S swung into position and tightened sufliciently to hold the clothes in place. Since there is but a single operating device for the entire clamp, the entire operation may be performed by the operator without moving from one side of the bed to the other. By tightening the wing screw 18, pressure is brought on the jaws throughout the entire length thereof.

Y The device is quickly operated since' only a slight rotation of the screw is necessary for tightening the jaws. The movement of the jaws for opening and closing to permit insertion and removal of the clothes, is accomplished by swinging the yoke 20 and the clamping screw out of operative position during said opening and closing of the jaws, and rotation of the screw is necessary only for Vthe final tightening operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: Y 1. In combination, a holder for bed clothes comprising a pair of clamping jawsY arranged to extend substantially the full .ing moment in said rod to produce a closing pressure on said jaws.

3. In a holder for bed clothes, a pair of clamping jaws, means for securing one of said jaws in a fixed position relative to a bed frame, a rotatably mounted resilient torsion rod extending longitudinally of said jaws, means carried near the ends of said torsion rod for movably supporting one of said jaws, and means for producing a twisting moment in said torsion rod for causing said rod to produce pressure near the ends of said movable jaw, tending to close said jaw relative to said fixed jaw.

In combination, a bed clothes holder comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws, means for securing said holder to the frame of a bed, and means for exerting pressure on said jaws to clamp said jaws in closed position, said means including a supplementary tightening device for said jaws and being movable to an inoperative posi tion to permit quick opening and closing action of said jaws.

In combination, a bed clothes holder comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws, and a single means vfor exerting yielding pressure near the ends of said jaws for forcing said jaws into closed position, and for exerting a positive closing pressure at an intermediate portion of said j aws.

6. In combination, a bed clothes holderV comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws, and a single means for exerting yield ing pressure near the ends of said jaws for closing said jaws, and for exerting a positive closing pressure intermediate the ends of said jaws and subsequent to the exertion of the yielding pressure near the ends thereof.

7. In combination, a bed clothes holder of said jaws for opening and closing move-- ment relative to said fixed jaw, an operating arm secured to said torsion rod, and means for exerting pressure on said operating arm to produce a twisting moment in said rod to force said movable jaw toward said fixed jaw.

8. In a bed clothes holder, the combination of two jaws, one of which is rigidly secured to suitable standards, of means for securing said standards to a bed frame, a resilient member rotatably supported by said standards and supporting the other of said clamping jaws by connection therewith near the ends thereof, and means for controlling said rotatable member secured thereto near the central portion thereof for securing the movable jaw in its adjusted position.

9. In a bed clothes holder, the combination with two jaws, one of which is fixedly secured to suitable supporting members, of means for securing said supporting members to a bed frame, an elongated resilient member rotatably carried by said supporting members, and arranged to carry the other of said clamping jaws, and operating mechanism connecting said rotatable member and said fixed jaw at a point near the middle of said member for operating said rotatable member to control said movable jaw.

10. In a bed clothes holder, an elongated fixed jaw, supports for said fixed jaw, means for securing said supports to a bed frame, an elongated member rotatably supported adjacent said fixed jaw, a movable jaw carried by said elongated member and arranged to rotate therewith toward and away from said fixed jaw, a link carried by said fixed jaw, an arm carried by said elongated member, and a threaded device carried by said link for exerting pressure on said arm to rotate said elongated member to force said movable jaw toward said fixed jaw.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each,

' Washington, D. C.

11. In a bed clothes holder, a fixed jaw, a rotatable member supported adjacent said fixed jaw, a movable jaw carried by said rotatable member for rotation therewith to- Ward and away from said fixed jaw, an arm carried by said rotatable member, means carried by said fixed jaw for exerting pressure on said arm to force said movable jaw toward said fixed jaw, said means being movable into inoperative position to permit free movement of said movable jaw relative to said fixed jaw.

l2. In a bed clothes holder, an elongated xed jaw, suitable standards for supporting said fixed jaw, means for securing said standards to a bed frame, an elongated torsion rod pivotally supported at its ends by said standards, arms carried by said torsion rod near the ends thereof, a movable jaw carried by said arms for rotation with said torsion rod toward and away from said fixed jaw, an operating arm rigidly secured to said torsion rod intermediate the ends thereof, an arm rigidly secured to said fixed jaw and arranged to Contact with the bed frame, a link carried by said Hxed arm, and a threaded member carried by said link and arranged to exert pressure on the arm Carried by said torsion rod to cause said torsion rod to exert yielding closing Apressure on said movable jaw near the ends thereof and arranged also to force said arm into contact with the central portion of said movable jaw to positively clamp said portion in closed position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 15th day of February, A. D. 1916.

JOHN T. COWLES.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR L. SPRINKLE, A. J. CRANE.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

